The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-30

cited, dead and buried, even bis
enemies admit, Toe supernatural
eclipse Of tie sun that bid bis tace
when he died, the earthquake, the
opening OF the graves, the rendiDg OF
the veil OF the temple, also attest His
extraordinary character. That he was
seen and heard and banded by many
living witnesses after his burial-who
bore witness TO the fact and went to
the stake and cross In support OF their
testimony. The progress OF Christian
ity, the return OF. spring after winter
OF death, the return OF the new moon
after a period OF observation, the cele.
bration Of the Lords Day,the rising OF
the sun, each sympathize The, great
fact OF the resurrection. Our calendar
attests this fact and the baptism as
prscticed by the Baptist is witness OF
His burial and resurrection.
Linden street Christian Church.
"Church Organization" was dis
cussed by the pastor, who argued that
congregational organization is the only
organization known to the New les
lament. The word church is used in
the Scriptures in two senses. In the
genei al sense the church embraces all
who believe in and obey the Saviour
everywhere; but in the restricted
sense it embraces only the members
of local congregation. When Christ
said, ION this rock / will build my
church." he used the word in its gem
eral sense; but when Paul addressed
q letter to the "Church of God which
Is in Corinth," he used the word In its
local or restricted sense. In the gem
eral sense OF the word the church has
no organization. The largest ecclesi-
asticism known to the New Tesla
meDt 10 found in the organism OF
local congregation. According to the
Scriptures the individual is res Ponsi-
BILE to the local congregation OF which
he Is q member, and the local Scongre-
cation Is responsible to no organiza-
ton outside Of ittef. This is the sim
ple and yet wise and divine order of
things presented in the inspired con.
stitution OF the church. The wisdom
and ben eficence OF the coDgre-
gational form of church government
are manifested. The liberty OF the in
dividual and the wholesome indie.
pendence OF the local congregation are
thereby secured. A general ecclesias-
ticism to supervise the internal affairs
OF the congregation, or invade the
sacred precincts OF the individuals
conscience, tends constant y to tyran-
nize over the congregation and strike
at the manhood Of the individual, A
true manhood cannot be develop d
while the conscience OF the individual
is subject to the dictation oil any earth
ly court; and communities and S ates
whose internal affairs must be regu-
lated by some form of general govern
ment, are hapless and dependant
satrapies.
The congregational form OF govern
ment secures the church against any
thing like general division. Take
window whoss glass is divided into q
number OF papes. II you strike apane
the break ends with that pane, aad
goes no further. But II the glass is all
In one piece, and you strike that the
break Is general, the whole window is
broken. just 90 as to church govern
ment. There can never be q gen.
eral division in church whose
congregations are strictly independent.
A local congregation may divide, but
there the ma ter ends, ss the others
have no essential connection with the
broken ne. But IL there is general
organization including all the congre'
cations, and rent is made, it is gen.
eral, and another de nomination is the
result.
Not only in every church that reeog-
niz,s general organization liable to a
general division, but as a matter Of
TACT nearly every one OF them has di'
vided. General org anjz ,tion has been
the prolific mother OF sects and de-
nominations. 1t ia the rock upon
which churches have been going TO
pieces from time immemorial, aud il
will continue to briug forth these bitter
fruits as long as 1t is recognized as 9
,, basis OF church org fniz ,tion.
According to the New Testament
idea of organ u ltion the local congre
ga ion is unit perfect in itself, thor
oughly equipped for the management
of it's own affairp, and wholly indie
pendent Of every other organ z ition
: subject to the officers of its own selec
, ton, and not subj sct to any outside
= man or set of men, be the mas pop
or bishop, or the set Of men council
+ of bishops, cardinals or what not
! This position is sustained by the testl
u mony OF the Scriptures and the voice
: OF ancient church history, ss shown
y hy the passages OF Holy Writ net ex
), ahmed and the extract from M.shein
= quoted while ago
J. That this systsm Of church govern
. ment was devised ia the Divine mint
!. d es not, l think, admit of dsputa
. ton and it WIS devised in view of thu
>, exegenc.es Of ali coming time, aut
y hence must be adapted to all the cir
:. cumstances Of earth. II this be true
y any departure from this divine mode
~ must be unwise aud dangerous. W
stand at ii e immense distance OF NOR
u than eighteen centuries from the in
Y spired apost ,es, and between them ant
10 us many human traditions aud in
y ventions lave crept into the faith
10 practice and polity OF the church. w
y should sweep all these cut Of the wa
u and return 10 the faith, practice an
d. polity of the New Testament
m Moses was to make all things accorC
u ing to the pattern shown him on tn
y. mound, surely we should make a
Nv things according to the pattern show
T. us from Jerusa EN-. The faith of th
8; New Tesla nent, the practice of th
~ Now Testament and the polity Of tn
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